[Interrupting my series on the wisdom of James for a public service announcement.]
I may have mentioned that I signed on with a meditation teacher to assure my practice remains on track. We all need a teacher at times to make sure we’re not drifting off into some rabbit warren of screwiness.
This further reflects two of my core values held for my entire life—peace and justice.
This week’s trail focuses on loving kindness. We first focused on our own heart. We need to be kind to ourselves. Then we focused on one person whom we know to be suffering. We meditated focusing our heart’s kindness on the other person.
Yesterday, the teacher asked us to focus on a group of people whom we do not know but that we do know are suffering.
My heart immediately went to all the people in Minneapolis right now. I’ve avoided writing about the mess up there, because I have no first hand observation or experience also I have little to contribute.
You can label the practice meditation, contemplation, or prayer. We sit quietly. We focus on our heart region. We bring the group of people to mind. I focus loving kindness on the families and others directly affected by the loss of life of loved ones. And on the the groups of people standing in protest. And the further groups of people providing support to those who have been targeted.
And also (surprising to some of you) to the federal agents who constitute a form of military organization. I know them not. Some may be thugs. Some may be adventurers looking for excitement. Some may think they are tough enough and need a job. I don’t know. But I doubt they’ve been well trained for the situation, a circumstance that leads to over-reaction. Over-reaction when bearing arms never leads to a good end.
They all in all their different circumstances need to be surrounded in the spirit of loving kindness.
That is something I can do from a remote location. And something I will. Then waiting for the spirit to lead me to whatever step is next.
In the meantime, we could all engage in the practice through meditation or prayer or whatever you cane to call it to focus loving kindness into the midst of strife and chaos.
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Faith Venture 
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